The Rum Kitchen (Bar, Restaurant)

Top 10 things we learnt about the Rum Kitchen when we visited:

1) You should be prepared for a truly Jamaican experience. The music, food, decor, and, of course, rum will have you thinking you're in the Caribbean, not London, and wondering whether you're talented enough to join their bobsleigh team.

2) Unassuming on the outside, the interior of this Notting Hill restaurant and bar is simple yet effective, offering a friendly beachfront cabin effect: wooden tables, colourful metal chairs, multi-coloured wooden slats instead of wallpaper, and laid back music to set the scene.

3) Although it’s called The Rum Kitchen - and don't get me wrong, lots of rum certainly does, in my humble experience, lead to a good party - you shouldn't be too quick to put it solely in the fiesta box; it also serves an excellent weekend brunch.

4) If you want a truly authentic breakfast-brunch, try the Ackee and saltfish with plantain.

5) Ackee, our waitress helpfully explained, is a Jamaican fruit which is poisonous when raw (don't worry, she insisted it can only be imported to the UK pre-cooked) and has a similar consistency to scrambled eggs once cooked. Along with the fish and callaloo, it makes for a delicious dish and proves that you do learn something new every day, even on hangover Sunday.

6) For those wanting something a bit more hearty, the Jamaican twist on the English breakfast might just do the job. Think pulled pork instead of bacon (bet you can't say it without the accent), spicy sausage and all the extras.

7) During brunch, a free DIY Bloody Mary stand will have you up from your seat and heading towards the bar before you can say 'Bacaan'.

8) To ease yourself into daytime drinking, you can also opt for the 'rum brunch punch' - a lighter version of the house cocktail, full of fresh fruit juices, which count towards your five a day, right?

9) Brunch is served between 12 and 4 on weekends, so for those early risers for whom brunch is actually lunch, there are other options, including the tender and ever so slightly spicy jerk chicken burger, served in a brioche bun.

10) The Rum Kitchen may serve a brilliant brunch, but there's no doubt it's also a great place for a few lively drinks. We even spotted a DJ booth and dance floor downstairs. That's next Saturday night sorted then! ...read more